I don't mean to marginalize your opinion, but the "Nanny-State" attack could also be applied to the parents who want the book banned, becuase they seem to think society is responsible for adhering to their own set of beliefs that in many ways seem to be sheltering these children from certain realities of human existence.
I'm not sure you understood what I said about the nanny-state. I was attempting to make a broad point that all parents should be so involved in their children's education to the point that they cannot help but end up having disagreements with the school at times. No-one, liberal or conservative, always agrees with everything that others do. If you are truly involved and parenting, you will at the very least end up presenting alternative views to your kids from time to time from what you know their teachers to be providing. Of course you might also go a lot further than occasional discussion. For example, I would (and have) assigned my children required reading at home occasionally. I fully agree with you that the point applies to both sides of an issue. However I do not agree to apply it specifically to the parents in the article who have been shown to be involved--Their kids are no doubt fully aware of their parents’ actions and views as would be the kids of parents who showed up at the school board meeting to present the opposite point of view (if there were any who did this). It is the kids whose parents don't monitor and respond to what is going on at the school who will end up learning apathy and a belief that the schools should operate without interference from parents or other concerned citizens.
Well, I picked up the book at the library. All I can say about it so far is that, to my surprise, it is non-fiction and it was located in the adult section of our local library, (and I know that our local librarians have no problem classifying anything that a kid might be interested in as juvenile fiction and providing a copy in the juvenile section, including things I would see as better reserved for the adult section). Is it just a colossal mistake on my part to have assumed that this was a class where works of fiction were being studied? Maybe my ignorance is showing.